Dr Noor ul Hassan is a dynamic administrator who in capacity of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU ) Regional Director , Srinagar Kashmir has taken it to new levels .
In an exclusive interview with The Kashmir Scenario, Dr Noor ul Hassan talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.
When did you start your stint with the field of Distance Education especially with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) ?
I started my career in IGNOU in 2011 before that I was in Irrigation Department Uttar Pradesh . I had my education from Aligarh Muslim University in the field of Geology and did Post Doctorate in this subject. I basically hail from District Rampur (Uttar Pradesh).
How is the response towards IGNOU in Kashmir and how has been your experience?
The experience of mine in Kashmir has been wonderful and since its establishment in 1999 the regional center Srinagar has emerged as the second largest study center of IGNOU in terms of the admission and It is thus unambiguously one of the biggest regional Centers of the country . The response of students towards IGNOU in Kashmir is superb .We recently enrolled about 13000 students in the July session 2013. We have 35 operational study and programme centers currently in Kashmir
What are the job Prospects of Distance Education courses especially like IGNOU Courses ?
Distance Education has lot of scope in getting quality jobs and one can take advantage of Distance Education mediums like IGNOU even after getting job as it would help them in promotions and improving their efficiency at job .
Tell us a bit about examination schedule?
We conduct examination twice for the students .
What are the time periods for the result announcement?
We normally have always been punctual in announcing the results and announce results within 45 days period of completion of particular exam.
Are students doing good in examination?
Yes as far as my analysis goes the students in Kashmir are doing awesomely brilliant in their IGNOU examinations.
How would you describe the future of Distance Education in the country?
Distance Education is the future of higher education in the country. In our country India the conventional universities are failing to cope up with the heavy student flow so the efficient mediums of Distance Education like IGNOU have a bright future.
Is it a correct perception that students take Distance Education on a lighter note?
Yes some students do take mediums of Distance Education like IGNOU on a lighter note and on majority of instances such students do not perform well as this medium too requires a rigorous study of 3 to 4 hours if you desire to perform well.
Any new courses coming up?
We are coming up with varied number of courses to make the IGNOU Courses relevant to present job market. In this regard, we are focusing on introducing skill oriented and vocational courses. We are offering 150 different courses in form of Diplomas, Graduates, and Certificate etc courses. We are also offering PHD and Doctorate courses although not via Distance Mode.
Does IGNOU posses the infrastructure to conduct practical courses?
We have fully fledged infrastructure at our study centers to teach practical courses to our students and we have kept 75 percent attendance mandatory for our students in these courses .
Can we say IGNOU is at par with global distance education courses?
We are not only at par but a globally acclaimed medium of distance education as we have distance education centers in 43 countries.
What is your message to students’ community?
My message to students’ community is come and join IGNOU courses if you desire to seek quality education and seek to excel in doing so.